I. -14.

MINUTES OF EVIDENCE. Tuesday, 4th August, 1908. John Campbell examined. (No. 1.) 1. The Chairman.] You are the Government Architect?— Yes. 2. Eight Hon. Sir J. G. Ward.] Well, Mr. Campbell, have you the sketch-plans with you that were ordered by the Committee?— Yes. 3. Would you be good enough to produce them and explain what they are? —This sketch-plan [produced, and marked " A "J iS a plan showing how the site of the old Parliamentary Buildings could be utilised for departmental offices. 4. The Chairman.'] Does that indicate the existing portion? —The existing portion is coloured g re y —the undestroyed portion. That coloured light pink represents the new buildings. "5. What would be the space between this front portion and Molesworth Street?—l was suggesting that we should increase the width on the Molesworth Street frontage from 52 ft. to 60 ft. The dotted line represents the present site. We are setting back the building. 6. What is the distance from the present street-line in Molesworth Street to the front of the building-line? —An average of 15 ft. 7. How much of that do you propose to throw into Molesworth Street? —About Bft. 8. Then, of course, the remaining number of feet is an open space between the front of the building and the fence? —Yes. 9. Now, take the Sydney Street site of this plan and give the same information. How many feet from the line on which the old Parliamentary Buildings stand do you propose to set back the existing building?— Twenty-three feet from present street-line generally, but with less at certain projecting parts of proposed building. 10. And how much of that is thrown into Sydney Street by way of extra width of street?— Sixteen feet. The street is increased from 50 ft. to 66 ft. 11. There then remains a space between the fence and the building?— Yes. 12. How much? —Seven feet. 13. Practically the same as the other side? —Yes, practically the same. 14. Then, in regard to the Hill Street side: the proposed new building is in line with the present library block? —Yes, which is 24 ft. from the fence in Hill Street. 15. What is the distance from the front of the new building—the additional length which will be built on to the Hill Street side?— Two hundred and ten feet additional length. 16. Well, on the same side and behind the existing building towards the tennis-court, how many feet do you extend that?— One hundred and fifty four feet. This wing in Sydney Street goes back a further 80 ft. 17. It goes a further length on the Sydney Street frontage of 80 ft? —Yes. ■ 18. And the total frontage of the building to Sydney Street is what? —Five hundred and fifty-eight feet. 19. Mr. W. Fraser.] With regard to this line you have marked, is that the line upon which the foundation of the present building exists? —It is set further back than was Frain's contract. 20. How far back? —About 20ft. further back. The present buildings go to the Sydney Street edge, and we have gone back 20 ft. 21. Bight Hon. Sir J. G. Ward.] Why do you propose to go back 20 ft.?— One reason was that we should increase the width of Sydney Street from 50 ft. to 66 ft. in order to have more nii-space between the Departmental Buildings. 22. Mr. W. Fraser.] Do you not lose certain foundations?—We lose the front wall of Frain's foundation. 23. Would you lose it if you took it off the other side?—We could not take it off the other side because we have the Mines Department's brick building there. 24. That is the other side of Museum Street? —If you widened the street that side you could not continue the width ; but if you widened it on the other side the street may be continued right through. 25. Right Hon. Sir J. G. Ward.] But is that not also to get rid of the soft foundation? —Yes, by keeping back 20 ft. we avoid a very imperfect foundation. There is an old gully which runs right down there. 26. As a matter of fact, I understand that by putting the foundations on the solid the cost would be small in comparison with the cost of excavating on the soft portion—you would save that?— Yes. 27. The Chairman.] What is the comparative superficial area occupied now by the existing portion of the building—roughly?—ll,ooo square feet ground-area, or 20,000 square feet floorarea. I—l. 14.